Boston Marathon Bombings

News about the Boston Marathon bombings and the race, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 7, 2015

Lawyers for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev request new trial; motion comes after Tsarnaev was sentenced to death in May for his role in 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. MORE

Jun. 25, 2015

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev delivers four-minute statement in court in which he apologizes to victims of 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and their families; judge formally confirms Tsarnaev's death sentence. MORE

Jun. 19, 2015

Khairullozhon Matanov, friend of Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is sentenced to two and a half years in prison for misleading investigators in case. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

Middlesex County Dist Atty Marian T Ryan reveals that Boston transit officer Richard Donohue, who almost bled to death after being hit in shootout between police and Boston Marathon bombers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was likely shot by police; Ryan, who has been probing 2013 shootout, concludes that officers were justified in using deadly force. MORE

May. 29, 2015

Judge George A OToole Jr sets June 24 as day for official sentencing of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston Marathon bombing case; jury has recommended death penalty. MORE

May. 20, 2015

Federal Judge George A O'Toole Jr says death sentence for Dzohokhar Tsarnaev for his role in 2013 Boston Marathon bombings will be made official in June; Tsarnaev's lawyers are expected to begin lengthy appeals process that could postpone date of execution for at least decade. MORE

May. 17, 2015

Bostonians express ambivalence upon hearing that Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death; many city residents, surprisingly, opposed death sentence, with some saying they believe life in prison would be worse than death, since Tsarnaev is only 21 years old; while some feel death penalty is a strike against liberal underpinnings of city, many survivors of the bombings express relief. MORE

May. 16, 2015

Federal jury sentences Dzokhar Tsarnaev to death for his role in 2013 Boston Marathon bombings; Tsarnaev reveals no emotion as verdict is read; reaction of victims is mostly subdued; jury rejected defense argument that Tsarnaev's older brother Tamerlan was primarily responsible and thus he did not deserve capital punishment. MORE

May. 16, 2015

Many of victims of Boston Marathon bombing of 2013 react with ambivalence to jury sentencing Dzohkhar Tsarnaev to death; some praise decision and say Tsarnaev deserves death sentence. MORE

May. 16, 2015

Reporter's Notebook; some memorable moments of trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 are recalled, including testimony from witnesses both for prosecution and defense. MORE

May. 15, 2015

Jurors deliberate for first full day on sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who has been convicted in connection with Boston Marathon bombing; jury must unanimously agree before death penalty can be imposed. MORE

May. 14, 2015

Jury in trial of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev begins deliberating whether to sentence him to life in prison or death; task follows 10 weeks of testimony from more than 150 witnesses. MORE

May. 12, 2015

Sister Helen Prejean, Roman Catholic nun and prominent opponent of death penalty, testifies for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, saying he seems regretful for his actions; jury will begin deliberations on whether to sentence Tsarnaev to death or life in prison after hearing closing arguments. MORE

May. 11, 2015

Wounded survivors of 2013 Boston Marathon bombings are finding comfort with new friends as jury prepares to deliberate over whether to give Dzhokhar A Tsarnaev death penalty; they are bonding with caregivers, strangers and each other and many say they will sustain new relationships after trial. MORE

May. 8, 2015

Court is abruptly adjourned in trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as lawyers argue over final witnesses on Tsarnaev's behalf; prosecutors presented last-minute objection to testimony from Sister Helen Prejean, Roman Catholic nun and prominent death penalty opponent. MORE

May. 7, 2015

Defense in trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev makes last effort to spare his life, arguing, among other things, that space remains in high-security penitentiary in Colorado where terrorists and others guilty of heinous crimes are kept. MORE

May. 5, 2015

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev shows emotion for first time as his family members take the stand to plead for his life during sentencing phase of his trial. MORE

Apr. 30, 2015

Defense lawyers at penalty phase in trial of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar A Tsarnaev call as witnesses his teachers and friends, some of whom offer positive accounts of Tsarnaev as a child. MORE

Apr. 29, 2015

Prosecutors in Boston Marathon bombings trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are focusing on role of Katherine Russell, Tsarnaev's sister-in-law, in preparations for the attack. MORE

Apr. 28, 2015

Defense lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev urge jury to spare his life and sentence him instead to life in a supermax prison facility in solitary confinement. MORE

Apr. 24, 2015

Federal prosecutors call victims to stand as they try to persuade jury to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death for Boston marathon bombings. MORE

Apr. 23, 2015

Defense lawyers for accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, during penalty phase of trial, show jury longer version of video showing him thrusting his middle finger at security camera in his prison cell three months after bombing; move is effort to put gesture in a context that makes it seem less confrontational. MORE

Apr. 22, 2015

Prosecutors open defense phase of trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev by showing image of him making obscene gesture at prison surveillance camera three months after bombing; prosecution seeks to portray Tsarnaev as willful young man who acted on his own initiative, rather than pawn of his older brother, as defense has argued. MORE

Apr. 18, 2015

Bill and Denise Richard, parents of 8-year-old Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard, present open letter to Justice Dept asking government not to seek death penalty against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. MORE

Apr. 16, 2015

Boston Journal; Bostonians, emerging from snowiest winter in city's history, prepare to host the 119th Boston Marathon; event has taken on double resonance since 2013 bombings, emerging as an occasion for both solemn remembrance and joyful celebration; this year's marathon bears added layer of complexity, arriving during trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who has been convicted on 30 counts in relation to bombing. MORE

Apr. 11, 2015

Sentencing phase of Boston Marathon bombing trial is set to begin April 21; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was convicted of all 30 counts in case. MORE

Apr. 9, 2015

Federal jury in trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev returns guilty verdicts on all 30 main counts; same Boston jury will now decide whether Tsarnaev gets life in prison without parole or death penalty. MORE

Apr. 8, 2015

Apr. 7, 2015

Prosecution and defense offer final arguments in Boston Marathon bombing trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; prosecution deploys dramatic, 80-minute multimedia presentation that seeks to portray Tsarnaev as an equal partner in the carnage with his older brother Tamerlan; defense takes opposite course, arguing that Tsarnaev was deeply under his brother's influence. MORE

Apr. 4, 2015

New report by Massachusetts State Police and government officials contends throng of 'self-deployed' officers from Massachusetts and neighboring states rushed to Boston suburb in wake of 2013 Boston Marathon bombings lacking any coordination with police commanders; says more than 2,500 officers converged on Watertown in dangerous and uncontrolled action. MORE

Apr. 1, 2015

Defense in trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev rests its case after questioning just four witnesses; admits Tsarnaev's guilt but argues he was under his brother Tamerlan's influence. MORE

Mar. 31, 2015

Prosecution rests its case in trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, admitted Boston Marathon bomber, after describing in gruesome detail the death of 8-year-old Martin Richard; Tsarnaev has been indicted on 30 counts, 17 of which carry death penalty. MORE

Mar. 30, 2015

Lawyers for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston Marathon bombing trial face difficult question of whether he should take stand after prosecution rests; strategy is uncommon in criminal trials; Tsarnaev's testimony, along with his attitude and body language, could play key role in determining whether he receives capital sentence or life in prison; so far, Tsarnaev's demeanor has been aloof and inscrutable, adding to difficulty of his lawyer's choice. MORE

Mar. 25, 2015

Mar. 24, 2015

Poll by Boston's NPR news station WBUR finds that 62 percent of Boston voters say they would sentence admitted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to prison for life with no possibility of parole; 27 percent say he should be executed. MORE

Mar. 18, 2015

Defense in trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev indicate they will argue that Tsarnaev's older brother Tamerlan pushed him into participating in attack in effort to secure lighter punishment for Tsarnaev during later phase of trial. MORE

Mar. 17, 2015

Jury in Boston Marathon bombing trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hears firsthand accounts from police officers and neighbors who say he ran over his brother Tamerland with sport utility vehicle while fleeing scene in Watertown, Mass, after shootout. MORE

Mar. 14, 2015

Defense for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev being mounted by lawyer Judy Clarke bears resemblance to strategy used by Clarence Darrow to save his clients from death penalty almost century ago; Clarke's approach also is similar to so-called Svengali defense used in case against Lee Malvo, who was charged with aiding older accomplice kill 10 people in Washington, DC, area in 2002. MORE

Mar. 13, 2015

Testimony in Boston Marathon bombing trial reveals gripping story of Dun Meng, who escaped carjacking by Dzhokar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and whose quick, methodical thinking was essential in their capture; after risking his life to escape, Meng provided police with GPS data that allowed them to track brothers in Meng's stolen Mercedes. MORE

Mar. 10, 2015

Second week of Boston Marathon bombings trial introduces videos showing Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his brother Dzhokhar as they moved purposefully alongside runners near finish line, both wearing backpacks; among images never before seen by public is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev dropping backback and then making cellphone call immediately before the first explosion. MORE

Mar. 6, 2015

Witnesses testifying at Boston Marathon bombing trial paint harrowing picture of tragic day, describing bloody street littered with bodies; survivors of bombing have coped in different ways, with some seeing it as essential to come face to face with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in court. MORE

Mar. 5, 2015

Trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston Marathon bombings opens with his attorney Judy Clarke admitting her client set off blasts that killed three people and injured many others, arguing that he acted under spell of his older brother Tamerlan; admission of culpability is made to sway jury to spare Tsarnaev death penalty and sentence him instead to life in prison; prosecutors argue he is committed terrorist. MORE

Mar. 4, 2015

Jury of eight men and 10 women, most of them middle-class and white, are selected for trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; all jurors have said they are willing to condemn Tsarnaev to death, requirement of death penalty case. MORE

Mar. 3, 2015

Lawyers for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, defendant in 2013 Boston Marathon bombing case, say they want the jury in his trial to view the entire boat in which he hid while the authorities searched for him several days after the bombing. MORE

Mar. 1, 2015

Federal appeals court rejects Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's request to have his trial moved from Boston area; divided jury disagrees over whether residents of area where bombing occurred have ability to remain impartial, with those in favor of keeping trial in Boston winning out 2 to 1. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Lawyers for accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev petition to have his indictment dismissed or trial suspended, citing lack of minorities and young people in jury pool. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

Opening arguments in trial of Boston Marathon bombing defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are set to begin shortly. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Three-judge federal appeals panel sharply questions lawyers who continue to request change of venue for trial of Dzhokar Tsarnaev in Boston marathon bombing case; defense has argued that assumption of guilt against Tsarnaev is so pervasive in region that he cannot possibly receive fair trial. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

United States Court of Appeals for First Circuit will hear arguments on whether to move Boston Marathon bombing trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev out of city; decision follows jury selection process that has been drawn out by bad weather and difficulty in finding impartial candidates. MORE

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